WORK has begun on a scheme that aims to improve walking and cycling links between Caerau and Maesteg.

Following public exhibitions that took place last year, construction of Phase One of the Llynfi Valley Community Route is expected to take around five months to complete and comes hot on the heels of a recently announced new BMX track for the Llynfi Valley.

The link between Caerau and Maesteg will enable more people to access education, employment and leisure facilities by walking or cycling with the works being funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the European Union’s Convergence programme administered by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The first part of the construction will focus on finishing the link from Cwrt-y-Mwnws to a section which was recently completed as part of the Maesteg School Safe Routes in Communities programme. Work will then move north as the scheme progresses.

Once completed, the Llynfi Valley Community Route will also provide an off-road walking and cycling route between Maesteg and Croeserw at the top of the Llynfi Valley, linking into Neath Port-Talbot and the Afan Forest Park.